Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-25
MANCHESTER ANNEXATION.
The BOARD of Public Interests Re-
mort FayorabIy on IL.


The Board OF Public Interests met in
the Council chamber yesterday evening
at ) o'clock. Present Messrs. John
s. Bethel chairman, f. o. Noting,
W. II. Peasants, Bev. Z. Crump, n.
d. Hargroye, A. Griffith, and L. Ii.
Elicit.
In response to the resolution from
the Common Council, referred to them,
as to the ACCESSIBILITY of procuring such
legislation as is necessary TO include the
cities of Manchester and Richmond in
one government, Messrs. Crump and
Fleasants, the Subcommittee appointed,
offered the following as the report Of
the Board of Public Interests to the
Council
IL the HonordJis Common Council II Tire CRY Of
Richmond:
The Board OF Public Interests 20 whom was
referred resolution Of your honorable body
requiring them to Inquire into certain matters
relating TO the annexation Of Manchester ID
Richmond, respectfully report that they have
considered the advisability Of such anneXa-
;.cD, having had before them citizens
OF both cities, and procured all the
Information attanable from different
,ources; and, in the opinion Of this Board.
ii IL advisable that the present cities OF Man
chester and Of Richmond should be incOrpO-
rated under one municipal government, ami
lac Council should take action necessary To
procure such legislation as may be requisite 10
cEectuato the consolidation OF the two cities.
report Of a suh-cOm mi,tec Of this Board Is
herewith returned, which contains full infOr-
nation regarding the population. bonded IL
dehlednoss, &C, Of the city Of Manchester; and
also an estimate Of probable expenses neces-
saIy 10 be made in public improvements in
Manchester. These latter amounts are, OF
course. only estimates, aud the disposition Of
these matters Will be entirely within the con-
troll ~ the City Council
As 20 the terms upon which the union OF the
two cities should be based, this Board reports
that the consent Of the Councils Of both cities
should be first obtained, and the passage OF an
act Of the Legislature procured extending the
boundaries Of the city Of Richmond, 80 a. to
include the territory now within the corporate
limits OF the city Of Manchester. This law, be-
fore going into effect, should be submitted 10
"A vote OF the people Of each corporation, "A az
present constituted.
lis Board cannot present In detail auy ex-
act scheme for such an act Of annexation. That
would have 70 be done by the proper agencies
OF the Councils Of the two cities. IL would,
however, be wise, In the opinion Of this Board,
nOt 10 restrict too much the powers OF
the general City Council over the
whole Of the territory after annexation. The
Council, elected directly by the people Of the
whole city, should be left to regulate the ex-
peDses and other Affairs Of the municipality as
they should deem best in accordance with
what thoy should find necessary from time 10
time. This Board has, however, determined
10 advise the Council u have such restriction
placed upon their future powers that the sums
Of money TO be expended annually In munich
pal Improvements on that part Of the territory
known "a Manchester shall not for the first
ave years after the annexation, exceed In any
one year the amount Of net revenue collected
from that part Of the future city.
The attention Of the Council il called 20 the
fact that In 1872 bill was offered in the Legis-
lature Of Virginia proposing the annexation Of
Manchester 20 RichmOnds This bill was not
passed then, but was printed. and may be Of
assistance In framing such law at this time.
This report embodies the report pre-
yiously published of a subcommittee,
which gives the financial standing of
the cities, in connection with the terms
Of annexation.
Mr.. Crump offered the following,
which was adopted
Resoired That the report be adopted by the
Board as its report, to be- forwarded 10 the
Council, embodyng the action OF a majority of
the Board on tho different subjects mentioned
n e.
Adjourned.